In life after TV, Vietnam Idol runner-up holds first concert

HA NOI (VNS)— Hoang Quyen, runner-up of Vietnam Idol 2012, will have her first live show tonight, marking her "grown-up career", the 23-year-old singer said at a recent press conference.

Entitled Ret Dau Mua (Early Chill), her debut show was named after a song written for her by composer Le Minh Son, which she has already sung at past performances. Quyen will open with this song at tonight's concert, which begins at 8pm at the Ha Noi Opera House.

Quyen, a Tay ethnic native of the northern mountainous province of Thai Nguyen, will perform songs by famous composers such as the late Trinh Cong Son, Thuan Yen and Pham Duy.

Two guest singers including Thanh Bui, a finalist of Australia Idol 2008, and Duc Tuan, who is known for his semi-classic music style, will have duet performances with the songstress.

Quyen began her singing career when she was 14 after being discovered by composer Son.

Although Quyen's songs have been previously featured on three albums by composers Dang Huu Phuc, Le Minh Son and Tran Viet Tan, she just released an album of her own in May.

Entitled Ve (Come Back), the debut album features emotional songs by veteran Vietnamese composers such as Trinh Cong Son, Vu Thanh An, Ngo Thuy Mien and Pham Duy. The songs have been performed in an acoustic style, aiming for "maximum exposure of Quyen's pure and passionate voice," said Son, a key supporter of Quyen's music. — VNS